Syphilis incidence and its risk factors in a cohort of young men who have sex with men / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To investigate the incidence of syphilis infection and to determine the risk factors related to syphilis infection among young men who had sex with men (YMSM), which were documented for developing effective intervention to prevent sexually transmitted diseases among YMSM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cohort study was conducted in 8 cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming,Guiyang, Chongqing, Chengdu, Urumqi and Nanning) from May to December, 2009. A total of 1 037 syphilis-negative YMSM aged 18-25 were enrolled in the cohort and the two follow-up surveys were carried out every six months. The contents of study included sociodemographic characteristics, HIV-related knowledge, sexual behavior and condom use in the 6 months prior to survey. All participants were tested for syphilis with whole blood specimens. Chi-square test was used to compare demographic characteristics of participants in baseline with those of two follow-up, and Cox regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with syphilis infection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rates of participants in 6, 12 months follow-up surveys was 79.85% (828/1 037) and 82.16% (852/1 037) respectively.39 syphilis seroconversions were found in the 12 months follow-up survey. Cumulative observed person-years during follow-up time was 1 106.67. The syphilis incidence rate was 3.5%. The Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the education of senior high school (senior high school vs some college or higher, RR = 2.19, 95% CI:1.21-3.98), bisexual orientation (bisexual orientation vs homosexual orientation, RR = 2.19, 95% CI:1.21-3.97), score of HIV/AIDS knowledge <8 (score of HIV/AIDS knowledge <8 vs knowledge = 8, RR = 2.39, 95%CI:1.35-4.21), had two and more sexual partners and inconsistent condom use in the past 6 months (inconsistent condom use vs consistent condom use, RR = 3.10, 95% CI:1.39-6.91) were significantly associated with syphilis seroconversion in the 12-month period.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The syphilis incidence was high and risk behaviors were common among YMSM of China.</p>

The prevalence of HIV infection and sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men and women in Chengdu and Guangzhou, China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To understand the status of HIV infection and sexual behaviors with men and women among men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) and documented for HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men to the general population.Methods 300 participants were recruited by using "snowballing" sampling in Chengdu and Guangzhou,respectively.Participants completed the questionnaire and HIV test.The questionnaire included social demographic characteristics,number of male sexual partners,sexual behaviors and condom use in the past 6 months.Relations with female sexual partners,vaginal intercourse and condom use in the past 12 months were also studied.Results Of the 600 oarticioants,the overall prevalence of HIV infectionwas 26.2％ and the detection rate of HIV-positives in this survey was 8.5％.In the past 6 months 28.0％ of the participants had 5 or more male sexual partners and the percentage of MSMW who had used condoms consistently during anal sex intercourse with men,was 44.2％.Of the participants,52.3％ had used condoms in the last three anal sex events and 63.0％ in the last event.In the past 12 months,86.0％ of the participants who had vaginal sex with female partners and the proportions of MSMW who had wife,girlfriend,lover,female casual partner and female commercial partner were 65.0％,27.2％,1.5％,12.7％,4.5％,respectively.About a third of the MSMW had always used condoms when having vaginal sex in the past 12 month.In the last three vaginal sex events,the proportion of participants who had never used condoms was 36.5％.In the past 6 months,55.7％ of the MSMWs had used condoms consistently during anal sex with men in Chengdu,which was higher than those MSMW in Guangzhou (32.7％).In the past 12 months,the proportion of MSMW who had used condoms consistently during vaginal sex was 38.3％,which was higher than MSMW of Guangzhou (25.3％).Among those HIV-positive MSMWs,91.1％ had anal sex with men in the past 6 months and 49.7％ HIV-positive MSMW had used condoms consistently during anal sex with men.The number of HIV-positive MSMW who had used condoms in the last or last three anal sex events with men,accounted for 60.5％ and 69.4％,respectively.In the past 12 months,82.8％ of the HIV-positive participants had vaginal sex with women.Of the HIV-positive participants,42.0％ used condoms consistently and the percentage of HIV-positive MSMWs who used condom during last three vaginal sexes was 47.8％.In the past 6 months,the percentage (4.3％) of MSMW who were HIV-positive prior to the survey and never used condoms during anal sex with men was lower than the percentage (22.0％) of MSMW who were HIV-positive found in this survey.In the past 12 months 12.9％ of the MSMW who were HIV positive prior to the survey never used condoms when having vaginal sex event,which was lower than MSMW (46.3％) who were HIV positive in this survey.Conclusion The prevalence of HIV infection had reached a quite high level and with high rates of unprotected anal sex with men and vaginal sex with women among MSMWs,indicating that the inherent bridging aspect of MSMW might accelerate the spreading of HIV infection to the general population.

The unprotected sexual behaviors and its influencing factors among HIV-infected men who have sex with men in Shanghai, China / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the sexual partners and sexual behaviors among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) and to examine the factors related with high risky sexual behaviors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 200 HIV-positive MSM participants were recruited using "snowballing" sampling from June to December in 2010 in Shanghai. Participants completed the questionnaire which included social demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors with male and female sexual partners in the past 6 months, alcohol consumption, alkyl nitrite use, illegal substances use and depression and anxiety symptoms, etc.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 200 HIV-positive MSM participants, 45.0% (90/200) of participants' ages ranged from 26 to 35, and 30.0% (60/200) of the respondents were married. Participants living with a male partner and living with a female partner accounted for 17.0% (34/200) and 9.0% (18/200), respectively. A total of 57.5% (115/200) had anal sex with male and 13.5% (27/200) had sex with female in the past 6 months. The percentage of participants who had 2 or more male anal sexual partners was 36.5% (73/200). During last six months, participants who didn't use condom consistently during anal sexes with men and vaginal sexes with women accounted for 16.0% (32/200) and 3.5% (7/200), respectively. The rate of risky sexual behaviors (any unprotected sex with male or female) during past 6 months was 17.5% (35/200). Factors associated with risky sexual behaviors included getting drunk before last sex (OR = 4.270, 90%CI: 1.676 - 10.881), using alkyl nitrite (OR = 3.397, 90%CI: 1.564 - 7.377) and having casual male partners (OR = 2.951, 90%CI: 1.278 - 5.252) during past six months, getting HIV infection diagnosis in half year (OR = 4.181, 90%CI: 1.939 - 9.013).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There were high rates of unprotected anal sex with men and vaginal sex with women among HIV positive MSM and alcohol and substance use before sex could increase the risk of having unprotected sex.</p>

Investigation of HIV and syphilis infection status and risk sexual behavior among men who have sex with men in four cities of China / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate HIV and treponema pallidum infection status, risky sexual behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) and its impact factors in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Snowball sampling was used to recruit subjects from April to August in 2008 in Beijing, Harbin, Zhengzhou and Chengdu city. Serological test of HIV and treponema pallidum were conducted and a questionnaire survey was undertaken among subjects. The questionnaire included social demographics, characteristics of sexual partners and sexual behaviors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1693 subjects was enrolled in present study, which included 1390 MSM/M (82.1%) and 303 MSMW (17.9%). The infection rate of HIV among MSM/M and MSMW subjects were 7.0% (97/1390) and 6.6% (20/303), respectively. The infection rate of treponema pallidum among MSM/M and MSMW subjects were 11.9% (166/1390) and 13.2% (40/303), respectively. The proportions of MSM/M subjects who never used or sometimes used condoms when having same-sex anal intercourse in recent 6 months were 8.6% (120/1390), 45.3% (630/1390), respectively. The according proportions among MSMW subjects were 10.2% (31/303), 44.6% (135/303), respectively. Among MSM/M subjects, the risk factors of risk sexual behaviors included having less than 6 sexual partners (OR = 6.03, 95%CI: 2.54 - 14.28), no same-sex regular sexual partner (OR = 2.18, 95%CI: 1.30 - 3.65), no same-sex casual sexual partner (OR = 2.90, 95%CI: 1.79 - 4.71), T-pattern only during anal intercourse (OR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.13 - 2.37) or P-pattern only (OR = 1.58, 95%CI: 1.04 - 2.41). Among MSMW subjects, the risk factors of same-sex risk sexual behaviors included having less than 6 sexual partners (OR = 12.95, 95%CI: 2.38 - 70.52), no same-sex regular sexual partners (OR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.21 - 0.85), never used condom during heterosexual intercourse (OR = 3.53, 95%CI: 1.48 - 8.42).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The infection rate of HIV and treponema pallidum among MSM subjects were quite high, and the same-sex risk sexual behaviors among MSM subjects were ubiquity, whose risk factors including having less than six of sexual partners, no same-sex casual sexual partner, T-pattern or P-pattern only during anal intercourse and never used condemn during heterosexual intercourse among MSMW subjects no same-sex regular partner was a risk factor in MSMS population, while having same-sex regular partners was a risk factor in MSMW population.</p>

Prevalence of HIV infection and sexual behaviors with both men and women among currently married men who have sex with men / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To find out the status of HIV infection,sexual behaviors with both men and women as well as condom use among currently married men who have sex with men (MSM) so as to document for HIV intervention targeting this sub-population,in Beijing,Chengdu,Harbin and Zhengzhou cities.Methods “Snowballing” sampling method was used to recruit subjects in four cities.Participants were investigated by anonymous questionnaire containing demographics,sexual orientation,both homosexual and heterosexual behaviors and condom use during the past 6 months.Blood samples from participants were used to test HIV antibodies.Results Of the 858 participants for four cities,the average age was 38.3 (SD=9.1) years.36.7％ of them had completed the junior high school or under.The percentage of participants who identified themselves as homosexual,bisexual,and heterosexual or undecided were 40.9％,54.3％ and 4.8％,respectively.The overall HIV prevalence was 8.0％,and among four cities the HIV prevalence in Chengdu was the highest ( 13.3％ ).Results from the Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that never used condoms when having anal sex with men during the past 6 months among participants who did not have a city residential card,identifying himself as having homosexual orientation,living in Harbin,having first anal sex experience before 18 years of age the range of OR value was 1.5-2.1.In addition,the faetors associated with never using condoms in vaginal sex with women during the past 6 months were as follows:being over 46 years old,not having a city residential card,living in Beijing,identifying himself as heterosexual orientated or with unknown sexual orientation,never using condoms in anal sex with men during the past 6 months,the range of OR value was 1.7-5.9.Conclusion The prevalence of HIV infection seemed to be quite high among those currently married MSM.High rates of unprotected homosexual and heterosexual behaviors might accelerate the spreading of HIV from currently married MSM to their wives.

Oxymatrine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B for one year: a multicenter random double-blind placebo-controlled trial / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxymatrine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A multicenter randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 144 patients with chronic hepatitis B entered the study for 52 weeks; of them 72 received oxymatrine, and 72 received a placebo. Before and after the treatment, clinical symptoms, liver function, serum hepatitis B virus markers, and adverse drug reactions were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 144 patients, 14 were dropped and excluded due to inconsistencies in the included standard. Therefore, the efficacy and safety of 130 patients were analyzed. After being treated for 52 weeks, 70.77% of the patients in the study group had a normal ALT level, and in 43.08% and 33.33% their HBV DNA and HBeAg became negative. In the placebo group, 39.68% had normal ALT level, and 12.31% and 3.33% had their HBV DNA and HBeAg become negative. The rates of complete response and partial response in the oxymatrine group were 23.08% and 58.46%, and in the placebo group they were 3.08% and 44.62%. They were significantly higher in the oxymatrine group than in the placebo group. In the oxymatrine treated patients, 12 weeks after its withdrawal, 60.00% had a normal ALT level, 41.54% and 23.33% had both HBV DNA and HBeAg negative. In the placebo group, 31.75% had a normal ALT level, 3.08% and 1.67% had both HBV DNA and HBeAg negative. The rates of complete response and partial response in the oxymatrine group were 21.54% and 47.69%, and in the placebo group they were 0 and 41.54%. They were significantly higher in the study group than in the placebo group. The adverse reaction rates of oxymatrine in the study and the placebo group were 7.69% and 6.15%, respectively, but there was no statistical significant difference between them.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Oxymatrine is an effective and safe agent for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.</p>

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF 5 KINDS OF HALIBIOS ON ANTIAGEING ACTION / 中国海洋药物

The trace elements of Halibios were analysed and the effects of 5 kinds of Halibios on antiirritability, radical scavenging, memeory MAO-B activity, hemorheologic changes in animal were studied. The results showed that Halibios Acaudina molpadioides, Hippocampus Kuda ,Cavernularia habereri,Octopus valgaris ,and Octopus ocellatus contain abundant trace elements,most of them have effects on antiirritability, radical scavenging, rising memory and depressing MAO-B activity in animmal.